Abstract
Necrotic Enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens (CP) in poultry is probably the most important bacterial disease in terms of economic implications. The disease is multi-factorial and is invariably associated with predisposing factors. The present study investigated the effect of a commercially available Lactobacillus-based probiotic (FM-B11) for the control of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. In experiment 1, one-day-of-hatch broiler chicks were randomly allocated to the following treatment groups: 1) Non-challenged (NC); 2) Challenged (C); 3) Challenged + probiotic (C+ FM-B11). Prior to placement, chicks in groups 2 and 3 received 0.25 mL of Salmonella typhimurium (ST) containing 10 5 cfu of viable cells by oral gavage. At 14, 15 and 16 days of age, all chicks in group 3 were treated with FM-B11 in the drinking water at a concentration of 10 6 cfu/ml. At 21d of age, all chicks in groups 2 and 3, were individually challenged with 5 × 10 4 sporulated oocysts of E. maxima by oral gavage. At 26d of age, all chicks in groups 2 and 3, were individually challenged with 10 8 cfu CP; body weight (BW) was recorded prior to challenge. The experiment was terminated at 29 days of age and the following parameters were evaluated: NE-associated mortality, CP lesion scores, CP concentrations in ileum, BW, and body weight gain (BWG). Chicks treated with FM-B11 had significantly (P 0.05) difference in lesion score between C and C + FM-B11, group C + FM-B11 had significantly (P < 0.05) lower total number of cfu of CP recovered from the ileal mucosa and content samples when compared to group C. Experiment 2 was a unique and remarkable case report of a field outbreak of NE in a commercial broiler farm in Argentina. A reduction and control of the mortality associated with NE following 3 days of administration of FM-B11 was observed as compared with the control non treated house. These results imply that the commercially available Lactobacillus-based probiotic FM-B11 was able to reduce the severities of NE, as a secondary bacterial infection, in an experimental NE challenge model; as well as, in a commercial field outbreak of NE.
Highlights
In the United States, Necrotic enteritis (NE) in broilers is a multi-factorial disease with economic implications of almost $2 billion, annually [1]
The disease is caused by type A strains of Clostridium perfringens (CP) that are specific to poultry with the major toxin type being alpha toxin, and recent evidence suggests the involvement of a novel toxin called NetB [2,3]
Recently in a laboratory challenge model study, we demonstrated that neonatal Salmonella typhimurium (ST) infection, followed by an Eimeria and CP challenge caused enhanced development of NE as compared to an Eimeria and CP challenge only [13]
Summary
In the United States, Necrotic enteritis (NE) in broilers is a multi-factorial disease with economic implications of almost $2 billion, annually [1]. The bacteria are able to colonize and secrete increased amounts of toxins leading to necrosis of the gut mucosa [6,7]. It is widely understood that a coccidial infection is the most common pre-requisite for NE to occur. Damage to the intestinal mucosa is an important factor for CP intestinal colonization and the presence of a coccidial infection is probably the most common causative factor facilitating CP pathogenesis [1,7,8]. Changes in ration, immunosuppression, and withdrawal of the use of anticoccidials or other antimicrobials are known to predispose birds to NE [1,8]
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